From representation to abstraction
Watercolour as a medium has traditionally lent itself to representational landscape painting and this has been the starting point for many of my previous paintings. Working from sketches, photographs and painting in outdoor locations, I have produced landscapes and seascapes. Much of my work contained references to water and I decided to use this to explore working towards abstraction in painting. In this way I hope to move away from focusing on the pictorial and work towards a painted surface that used elements of colour, tone. texture, drawing and composition to produce an emotional response that excites the senses.
This representational painting of one of the larger lakes at Leonardslee Gardens in Sussex was undertaken as a studio piece from sketches and photos completed on site. I wanted to produce a number of paintings of this magical place as it was due to be closed to the public last year and it had been a favourite spot for many people.
It is a fairly large watercolour and has background which is loosely painted to emphasise the detail of the reflections on the surface in the foreground. This gives the picture a great sense of space and tranquility which was a lasting emotion that all those who loved the gardens will remember.
THE LAKE AT LEONARDSLEE GARDENS - SUSSEX 2010 WATERCOLOUR
It is a fairly large watercolour and has background which is loosely painted to emphasise the detail of the reflections on the surface in the foreground. This gives the picture a great sense of space and tranquility which was a lasting emotion that all those who loved the gardens will remember.
THE LAKE AT LEONARDSLEE GARDENS - SUSSEX 2010 WATERCOLOUR
This watercolour is moving towards an abstract representation of surfaces in that it depicts a pond but painted from an oblique angle. This means that the structure of the painting is not so easily definable but the composition still gives a somewhat realistic view of a pond surface. This was created by painting wet in wet to obtain depth in the water and then layering surface marks in different shades of green. The whole gives an evocative sense of depth and reflection of light on the surface. This was my first move away from representational work and I was unsure about my direction but the finished result filled me with joy.
POND SURFACE IN AFTERNOON SUN - LOST GARDENS OF HELLIGAN CORNWALL
WATERCOLOUR 2011
This is a more recent watercolour and the more developed abstract approach can be seen in movement of water on the surface. The pattern of ripples made by the wind across the surface has been captured by using masque pen to draw the structure of the pattern and then painting wet on wet using a lose approach with large brushes.
Using layers of transparent colour, the darker pigments give the sense of depths beneath the water. It is the image that evokes contemplation as you look down from the bridge into the lakes unfathomable waters.
RIPPLED LAKE SURFACE - SHEFFIELD PARK LOWER LAKES -SUSSEX
WATERCOLOUR 2013
Using layers of transparent colour, the darker pigments give the sense of depths beneath the water. It is the image that evokes contemplation as you look down from the bridge into the lakes unfathomable waters.
RIPPLED LAKE SURFACE - SHEFFIELD PARK LOWER LAKES -SUSSEX
WATERCOLOUR 2013